Podcasts about Massachusetts Senate

The Massachusetts Senate is exploring ways to keep the classroom distraction free by weighing legislation to ban cellphones in public schools. Teachers have long spoken out about cellphone use in the classroom being a constant distraction and health advocates warn about their effects on children's mental health. Do you think a cellphone ban is a good or bad idea? Why? State House News Reporter Alison Kuznitz joins us to discuss.Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset!

Mass. Senate lawmakers passed some session rules aiming to make the legislative process a little easier for people in the Commonwealth to understand.

U.N report reveals over eight hundred women lost medals to transgender athletes. Plus, former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner admits to misusing public funds, and Massachusetts Senate candidate John Deaton joins the show to discuss Elizabeth Warren's letter to McDonalds, lawfare against Elon Musk, and Warren's poor economic record. Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

In a heated debate for the Massachusetts Senate seat, Elizabeth Warren and John Deaton clashed on the future of cryptocurrency, focusing on bitcoin's role in banking and its regulation. The conversation highlighted stark contrasts in their views on financial stability and consumer protection. John Deaton, a proponent of bitcoin (BTC), framed cryptocurrency as a tool to combat predatory banking practices, sharing personal anecdotes about his mother's struggles with traditional banking. Senator Warren, on the other hand, maintained her stance on banning cryptocurrencies. ~This Episode is Sponsored By Coinbase~ Get up to $200 for getting started on Coinbase➜ https://bit.ly/CBARRON00:00 intro00:12 Sponsor: Coinbase00:36 John Deaton Defends Bitcoin02:15 Elizabeth Warren Gaslights Crypto03:20 Warren is against crypto regulation04:00 Self-Custody wallet ban05:17 "Big Crypto" donating to Deaton06:35 Deaton defended XRP holders not corporations07:25 Warren vs FIT21 Bill08:02 Warren is tone deaf on crypto voters09:13 Elizabeth lies about record10:10 Fact-Checking Warren10:51 Warren isn't bipartisan11:18 Warren voted against border bill12:48 Only 5 dems voted against bill13:49 Warren was ready with ads14:29 Only 40k people watched debate14:49 Warren winning15:15 Vote For Crypto!15:36 outro#crypto #XRP #bitcoin~Elizabeth Warren vs John Deaton Crypto Debate️‍

The Massachusetts Senate passed the Hero Act and added a few amendments to enhance the house passed bill.   We discuss the content of the bill and the amendments.   This is one of the largest Veterans enhancement bills in decades. 

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Smothered Benedict Wednesdays, is now available on the Spreaker Player!​​​​​​​Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, the Trump criminal plan was revealed in a major unsealing in the Mar a Lago espionage case.Then, on the rest of the menu, a Hawaii court ordered drug companies to pay the state a combined $916 million in the Plavix blood thinner lawsuit; a Texas petrochemical company has pleaded guilty to a violation of the Clean Air Act and agreed to pay more than thirty million dollars in connection with two explosions near Houston; and, the Massachusetts Senate is weighing a tuition-free community college plan.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where a man charged with helping the Hong Kong intelligence service in the UK has been found dead; and, politically motivated crimes in Germany reached their highest level in 2023, since tracking began more than twenty years ago.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live Player​Keep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!"To those of us who believe that all of life is sacred every crumb of bread and sip of wine is a Eucharist, a remembrance, a call to awareness of holiness right where we are. I want all of the holiness of the Eucharist to spill out beyond church walls, out of the hands of priests and into the regular streets and sidewalks, into the hands of regular, grubby people like you and me, onto our tables, in our kitchens and dining rooms and backyards.”-- Shauna Niequist"Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/west-coast-cookbook-speakeasy--2802999/support.

In this week's episode of the Sportsman's Voice Roundup, our lead story brings us to Nebraska where 37 million dollars in sportsmen conservation dollars has been SAVED host Fred Bird discusses is joined by Jake Gould to talk about a thwarted effort in the Nebraska Unicam to take ‘surplus' from sportsman-conservation funds and transfer them to the state's general fund. Fred then tackles all the news that's fit to print about wildlife conservation across the country, including the Explore Act, which aims to improve recreational shooting opportunities, a Massachusetts Senate bill that supports discounted or free licenses, a Kentucky bill that prohibits payment card networks from distinguishing firearm retailers, Wisconsin bills related to hunting and wildlife management, a Colorado bill proposing an 11% tax on firearms and ammunition, and the expansion of the Collegiate Sportsmen and Women's Coalition to Clemson and LSU. Takeaways The Explore Act (HR 6492) is a comprehensive outdoor recreation package that includes provisions to improve recreational shooting opportunities. The Massachusetts Senate bill seeks to support discounted or free licenses to prevent the loss of critical conservation funding. The Kentucky bill prohibits payment card networks from distinguishing firearm retailers, which is a tactic being deployed in many states. Wisconsin passed bills related to air guns in big game hunting, muzzleloaders, and wolf management, but also vetoed a bill that would have prohibited hunters from taking antlerless deer in certain areas. Colorado is considering a bill that would impose an 11% tax on firearms and ammunition. The Collegiate Sportsmen and Women's Coalition has expanded to include Clemson and LSU. Get the FREE Sportsmen's Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Massachusetts Senate this week takes its second run in three years at a bill to expand access to early education and fortify that sector's workforce.

On Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate will take up a bill to reform and codify the state's framework for sexual health education. The chamber has passed similar legislation four times previously.

We look back at the history of efforts in Boston to explore reparations, particularly through the lens of Sen. Bill Owens, the first Black member of the Massachusetts Senate. At the end of the 1980s, Owens, inspired by activism he had seen in Detroit, introduced a bill to pay reparations to Black descendants of enslaved people. That bill is credited as being a model for national legislation introduced by Rep. John Conyers in every session of the U.S. Congress since 1989 to create a national commission on reparations.

In This Episode Erin has Covid! But don't worry, it's a mild case. Erin and Weer'd discuss some Assault Weapons Bans coming up through the ranks in Virginia and Massachusetts, and a fight brewing between the ATF and California; David acquired a Daniel Defense H9 for testing and gives us his review; and Tiny went to an RV show and shares his experiences there. Did you know that we have a Patreon? Join now for the low, low cost of $4/month (that's $1/podcast) and you'll get to listen to our podcast on Friday instead of Mondays, as well as patron-only content like mag dump episodes, our hilarious blooper reels and film tracks. Show Notes Virginia House approves assault weapons ban Massachusetts Senate approves gun bill aimed at ghost guns and assault weapons Red Blue and Brady-241: Youth, Fear, and Firearms in the Streets of Brooklyn ATF argues against California's demands for ghost gun regulations Gun Lovers and Other Strangers: Hudson H9 Forgotten Weapons: Hudson H9 Prototypes & Development Forgotten Weapons: Hudson Mfg Bankruptcy  TFBTV: The Hudson H9 is Back? TFBTV: A Daniel Defense Engineer on the Daniel H9 Pistol Colion Noir: Is Daniel Defense's First Handgun Worth It? Daniel Defense H9 H9 Accessories From Daniel Defense Handgun Hero: H9 vs Glock 19 Handgun Hero: H9 vs S&W M&P9 2.0 Compact H9 Backstrap and Grip H9 Stripped H9 Recoil assembly H9 Sights H9 Trigger H9 Optics Plate H9 Frame Internals H9 Slide Internals H9 Magazine Brena Bock Author Page David Bock Author Page Team And More  

Massachusetts Senate lawmakers will put gun safety laws to debate this week, countering the House gun bill passed in October with legislation containing a number of key differences.

We're still a few weeks away from the Senate Democrats' self-imposed deadline to introduce an omnibus gun control bill, but Gun Owners Action League director of public policy Mike Harris says the bill is likely to include many non-starters for Second Amendment advocates; from live-fire training to expanding the state's "red flag" law.

The Massachusetts Senate is still dominated by Democrats, but Republicans did manage to flip a seat that's been blue for decades during a special election on Tuesday. As Mike Harris of the Gun Owners Action League tells Cam, the race was an oddity in the state; pitting a pro-2A Republican against one of the few Democratic lawmakers willing to stand in support of the Second Amendment.

While Massachusetts House lawmakers have passed a version of new, strict gun regulations, the Massachusetts Senate has yet to finish crafting their own bill.

Laura's analytical and creative approach to identifying and tackling organizational opportunities stems from a unique background that includes work experience in innovation, operations, and policy, and degrees in business, studio art, and English. She earned her M.B.A. from Boston University in 2012 with a focus on building cross-cultural teams and creating shared value. Prior to completing her graduate degree, Laura also worked for the Massachusetts Senate for three years. On this episode of The Manufacturing Alliance Podcast, we discussed how localizing manufacturing and suppliers can increase competitive advantage for innovators, how this can help reduce our carbon footprint, and so much more! Contact Laura: laura@FORGEimpact.org Get Involved: FORGEimpact.org  

The Massachusetts Senate voted to approve funding for drug testing kits to be distributed to bars, restaurants, and nightlife establishments in the Bay State. WBZ's Chris Fama reports.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane present a clear solution to solving the debt ceiling debate, but will Biden and McCarthy choose the easy path or not? Jerome Powell has the lowest confidence rating of any Fed Chair in history. Americans are bracing for higher inflation in the long-term. Will India actually replace China as the global factory floor? The Massachusetts Senate would tap 'millionaires tax' to cover community college tuition for nursing students and more. Toast, a restaurant technology company, will pay $16M to buy-out their lease at Fenway office building.

Jim welcomes George Cronin back to the podcast to talk about all of the changes happening within the state of Massachusetts. Before getting into their discussion, Jim pays respect to the late Larry Rasky, founder of Rasky Partners, who passed away in March 2020.   During their conversation, George is able to give insight into different topics pertaining to the politics in Massachusetts. Topics discussed include: Massachusetts' new Democrat governor The composition of the Massachusetts Senate, Maura Healey Massachusetts Millionaires Tax Where Massachusetts is in their current session Changing sessions to more hybrid options since COVID Issues George believes will be tackled in the 2-year session. George Cronin is the Managing Director for the public affairs practice at Rasky Partners. Based out of Boston, they cover government relations at the state and municipal level, grassroots organizing, and ballot questions. They also have a D.C. office to cover federal affairs. George hails from Massachusetts, and was raised in a campaign environment. He attended UMass Amherst for his Bachelors degree, and Suffolk University for his Masters of Government. His first job in government was interning at the Choate Group, a public affairs firm that would later merge to become Rasky Partners. George has extensive campaign experience. He served as a senior advisor and New England political director for then U.S. Sen. Joe Biden's 2008 presidential campaign.' Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Have a suggestion, or want to chat with Jim? Email him at: Jim@theLobbyingShow.com Follow The Lobbying Show on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for weekly updates about the show, our guests, and more.

Marcus talks about the recent vote by the Massachusetts Senate to end term limits for Senate President and discusses whether or not term limits should exist for all elected offices.

Marcus talks about the recent vote by the Massachusetts Senate to end term limits for Senate President and discusses whether or not term limits should exist for all elected offices.

We are joined this week by former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift (3:03-1:22:03) for a wide-ranging conversation about education, her time in the Massachusetts Senate, as Lieutenant Governor, and, ultimately, as an historic Governor, and what she has been up to since leaving office. 

Senator Julian Cyr serves in the Massachusetts Senate representing Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. First elected to the State Senate on November 8, 2016, Julian is now serving in his second term and is the youngest senator in the 40-member body. And he's been a champion for arts and culture here on Cape Cod.  In this episode, we speak with the Senator about how the arts led him to a career in politics as well as how the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's Creative Exchange is being bolstered thanks to $400,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  Senator Julian Cyr was instrumental in securing the federal dollars to support the Cape's creative economy, filing an amendment to the Legislature's $4 billion ARPA and surplus tax revenue spending bill, which Governor Charlie Baker signed into law in December 2021.  “These are once-in-a-generation funds that are meant to help us rebuild and repair and build more resilient communities,” Senator Cyr said. “When you look at what powers Cape Cod and the Islands' economy, it is not solely tourism and our gorgeous beaches and natural beauty. The fabric of our community is its creativity and innovation.”

5/25/22-- This week on The Horse Race, Steve, Jennifer, and Lisa begin on the somber note brought about by yet another shooting tragedy, this time in Uvalde Texas, where 19 children and 2 teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School. This comes soon after 11 people were shot and killed in a racist attack at a Buffalo supermarket. Congressional delegates from Massachusetts expressed sadness and called for action, including disbanding the NRA (Rep. Jake Auchincloss) and abolishing the filibuster and passing gun safety legislation (Sen. Ed Markey). A Massachusetts Senate survey conducted in 2019 found what the Boston Globe called an environment of harassment among Senate employees. The report was never publicly released, but the Boston Globe obtained the report and shared the findings this week. Samantha Gross, who covered it, drops by The Horse Race to discuss what Senate staffers expressed, and how the lack of action surrounding instances of harassment contributed to a recent push to unionize. According to a 2020 study conducted by The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, more than a quarter of 4-year college students experienced food insecurity nationwide. Proposed legislation would take aim at that problem here in Massachusetts. Gina Plata-Nino, an attorney with Mass. Law Reform Institute and one of the co-chairs of the Hunger Free Campus Coalition, shares details on the bill and explains why food insecurity is such a persistent problem on Massachusetts college campuses.

Public meetings have been more transparent than ever thanks to remote access and participation adopted during the pandemic. But now, as safety protocols are lifted, there are signs the political establishment wants to go back to the way things used to be. Advocates say it's the wrong move — including Kade Crockford, the director of the Technology for Liberty Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, and Dianna Hu, the chairwoman of the Boston Center for Independent Living. They join Adam Reilly to make the case for keeping politics accessible and transparent moving forward. Plus, GBH News City Hall Reporter Saraya Wintersmith and State House News Service Reporter Katie Lannan unpack new budgets from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the Massachusetts House, as well as Boston's Pride-parade hiatus and the Massachusetts Senate's climate bill and its discontents. We'd like your comments, criticism, and suggestions! If you've got feedback of any sort, please email us at TalkingPolitics@wgbh.org or find us online at https://www.wgbh.org/news/talkingpoli.... While you're at it, why not subscribe to the GBH Politics Newsletter? Visit https://gbhnews.org/politicsnewsletter.

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Staffers in the Massachusetts Senate want to unionize for better pay, benefits and workplace protections. But, it's unclear whether state law even allows legislative branch employees to collectively bargain.

New York Makes Move to Give Cannabis Businesses Tax Relief, Massachusetts Senate passes bill to crack down on excessive cannabis fees, Cows Like Weed, Too!, Money Talks When it Comes to Cannabis Legalization

A Massachusetts Senate staffer push to unionize is far from a done deal. State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy discusses the complexities of the situation.

The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday unanimously approved the most significant changes to the state's marijuana laws since legalization was implemented in 2017.The package of reforms would crack down on excessive fees charged by municipalities to licensed marijuana operators, clear the way for cities and towns to approve cannabis cafes, and put more muscle behind policies meant to make the licensed pot industry equitable after decades of racially disproportionate drug arrests.The biggest deal is the Host Security Agreements now under the Cannabis Control Commission's  authority. There have been quite a few "shakedowns" and bribery schemes in Mass, like the former Fall River, MA Mayor in jail for accepting payments.The #TalkingHedge...https://youtu.be/T6SPv9pIYcg

"You must understand what systemic racism does is not just prohibit economic opportunity and jobs. It diminishes the soul. It diminishes yourself of who you are because of something you cannot control," state Sen. Lydia Edwards said.

It been nearly two years since the coronavirus swept through the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, taking the lives of more than 70 veterans. A bill that would overhaul the home's management structure is up for consideration in the Senate this week.

"I think we should have you in front of every young child in every Boston classroom" During the month of February For Love with James podcast is dedicated to celebrating Black History Month. In this episode, James is joined by Lydia Edwards, a member of the Massachusetts Senate.  Edwards is a woman who is committed to the wellbeing of those less fortunate. She was raised by her mother who served in the United States Millitary, and her mother's combination of "power and grace" helped kindle the fire within Lydia. She went on to aquire multiple degrees from Fordham University, Washington College of Law, and Boston University School of Law. From there she begun her journey in law and politics, eventually becoming a senator with the goal of making her world more equitable one day at a time.  Her incredible talents and her caring nature make Lydia a fantastic person to have as a leader of the march to equality. Her passion and drive for uplifting communities will surely usher in happy days for those who need it most.  *~*~*~*~* "For Love" is a very personal podcast featuring James Morton, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, where we'll spread love, learn new things about each other, and find our potential partners in this critical work - all with the hope of activating our community for good.   Visit our website, YMCABoston.org/forlove, to join the conversation, access show notes, and connect with us. Be sure to subscribe to our free podcast, and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app. The YMCA of Greater Boston is for All and dedicated to improving health and empowering youth and families while providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. Thanks for listening to the For Love podcast.

Adnaan Muslim has been a leading player in Democratic direct mail for more than 20 years, initially helping start Mission Control mail and now as a partner at Deliver Strategies. In this conversation, Adnaan talks his path to working in politics, how he gravitated to direct mail, importance races in his career like electing Elizabeth Warren, Jared Polis, and Raphael Warnock, and the passion he has for campaign speechwriting. Great stories, insight, and advice from one of the most unique voices in politics.IN THIS EPISODEThe member of Congress that made an impression on Adnaan at age 10…The Congressional internship and specific moment that led Adnaan to a life in politics…Adnaan's talks the value of starting a political career by working in campaign fundraising…Adnaan gives his perspective as a staffer of color in a historically white business…Adnaan tells the story of building the Democratic mail firm Mission Control…The early races that Adnaan cut his teeth on as a strategist…Adnaan talks his approach to designing effective mail pieces…Adnaan joins his current firm Deliver Strategies…Adnaan's role in Elizabeth Warren's first campaign in the 2012 Massachusetts Senate race…Adnaan talks one of the most important inflection points in the Elizabeth Warren 2012 win…Adnaan's best practices for political speechwriting…Adnaan's talks through two of his favorite political speeches…Adnaan talks about his passion for writing screenplays and being involved in filmmaking…Adnaan talks some of the creative tactics behind Raphael Warnock's Georgia Senate win…Adnaan's travel tips and hacks…Adnaan's strangest work habit…Adnaan's unconventional relationship with one of his competitors…AND Gabby Adler, Advent calendars, bad packers, Scott Brown, Rob Burch, Maryanne Connelly, checkered reputations, crescendos and decrescendos, Mario Cuomo, Happy Fernandez, Gema, Mandy Grunwald, Jesse Jackson, joining a supergroup, Tim Johnson, Elena Kagan, Ted Kennedy, Haroon Khan, kitchenettes, Mack Sumner, Betsy McCaughey Ross, the Mujahideen, Mindy Myers, Newburgh NY, Bob Ney, photocopies of business cards, George Pataki, Ed Peavy, Jared Polis, Larry Pressler, Ayanna Pressley,  Ronald Reagan, roleplaying, Marla Romash, Antonin Scalia, screenplays in a drawer, Sony Walkman, speeches only a Dad could love, unforced errors, Sujata Tejwani, Vernon CT, Raphael Warnock, Charlie Wilson, Michelle Wu, & more!

Closing arguments to begin in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the superintendent of Danvers schools could find out her fate tonight, and Massachusetts Senate president Karen Spilka gets a White House invite. Five minutes of news that will keep you in "The Loop."

A former CDC official applauds the Cambridge School Committee. The driver of a Green Line trolley that crashed in July is arraigned on multiple charges. The Massachusetts Senate debates election reform. Five minutes of news that will keep you in The Loop.

Ep.8 -  All hail Senate President Emerita, Harriette L. Chandler, known affectionately to many as Harlee.  On this final Friday of Women's History Month, Food & Convo had the honor of talking with one of the most prolific and staunch supporters of racial equity, social justice, pay equity and women's reproductive rights in Massachusetts. The first woman from Worcester ever to be elected to the Massachusetts Senate, she also served as the 94th President of the Massachusetts Senate. Taking much pride in her Jewish heritage, Senator Chandler shares some of her favorite recipes and the importance of food and independent restaurants to the local culture and economy. We dive into sneaker culture, her friendship with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (her classmate at Wellesley College), the importance of representation in politics, being present in the moment, education and her and her husband's crusade in racial justice.  *Interview recorded VIA zoom out of respect for COVID-19 protocols. 

Listen in as supporters of the Red Cloaks and the ROE Act discuss the historic victory of December 29, 2020, when the Massachusetts Senate voted to join colleagues in the state's House of Representatives to override Governor Baker's veto of legislation that expands access to abortion in the Commonwealth. The legislation began as the ROE Act, and was altered over the 24 month session. It updates state laws, expands access for those who receive a fatal fetal diagnosis after the 24th week of pregnancy, allows 16 and 17 year olds to access abortion without parental consent OR judicial permission, adds a scientific and medically accurate basis for legal definitions, and codifies the right to an abortion in state law. While not the full "ROE Act", the legislation is a step forward for reproductive justice. Find us on: twitter, instagram, facebook.

We check in on veto override efforts in the Massachusetts Senate with State Senator Harriette Chandler, who wrote and sponsored the ROE Act.

The gang discusses the one-sided "police reform" bill in both the Massachusetts Senate and State Legislature. Joe B has some thoughts on the Patriots, and Greg gets angry at some local politicians. 

I thought this episode would be interesting as we get through the election process this year. Enjoy! - J.G. On this edition of Parallax Views, much has been made about the role of money in the outcomes of political elections, at least within . In academic disciplines, however, this has often been seen as heresy. In fact, some view it as nothing more than conspiracy theory. And, truth be told, it would likely be overly simplistic to argue that a small handful of shadowy individuals select the two Presidential candidates every four years in U.S. elections. However, political scientist Dr. Thomas Ferguson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Boston,  dispenses with such oversimplifications while also making the case, through his extensive empirical research, that, yes, money in politics DOES, as a matter of fact, influence electoral outcomes.After receiving his Ph.D at Princeton University, Dr. Ferguson went on to teach, for a time, at MIT. During his academic travels he delved into the history undergirding FDR and the New Deal. In doing so he developed an alternative model to understanding elections that challenged the median voter theorem. This came to be known as the investment theory of part competition, which Dr. Ferguson elaborated upon in his landmark book Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of Money-Driven Political Systems, he joins us on this edition of the program to discuss this theory, how he came to developing it, and his thoughts on the 2020 Presidential election pitting Republican incumbent Donald Trump against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. In the course of our conversation we also discuss: - Rahm Emmanuel's declaration that 2020 would be the year of the Biden Republican - Thoughts on the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wing of the Democratic Party and the development of small donor power in elections - Why conspiracy theories have become so popular - The stunning defeat of Joe Kennedy by Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Senate race - Thoughts on the panic-laden Deutsche Bank report by Jim Reid warning investors of an "Age of Disorder" - And much, much more! This Episode Brought to You By:The War State:The Cold War Origins of the Military-Industrial Complex and the Power Elite, 1945-1963byMichael SwansonofThe Wall Street Window

Former Presidential and current Massachusetts Senate candidate Vermin Supreme joins Andy to talk about candidacy as performance art, anarchist political theory, and the Vermin Supreme Institute. I apologize for the audio, the call quality wasn't great. Intro music is "String Anticipation" by Cory Gray.

On this edition of Parallax Views, much has been made about the role of money in the outcomes of political elections, at least within . In academic disciplines, however, this has often been seen as heresy. In fact, some view it as nothing more than conspiracy theory. And, truth be told, it would likely be overly simplistic to argue that a small handful of shadowy individuals select the two Presidential candidates every four years in U.S. elections. However, political scientist Dr. Thomas Ferguson, Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Boston,  dispenses with such oversimplifications while also making the case, through his extensive empirical research, that, yes, money in politics DOES, as a matter of fact, influence electoral outcomes.After receiving his Ph.D at Princeton University, Dr. Ferguson went on to teach, for a time, at MIT. During his academic travels he delved into the history undergirding FDR and the New Deal. In doing so he developed an alternative model to understanding elections that challenged the median voter theorem. This came to be known as the investment theory of part competition, which Dr. Ferguson elaborated upon in his landmark book Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of Money-Driven Political Systems, he joins us on this edition of the program to discuss this theory, how he came to developing it, and his thoughts on the 2020 Presidential election pitting Republican incumbent Donald Trump against Democratic nominee Joe Biden. In the course of our conversation we also discuss: - Rahm Emmanuel's declaration that 2020 would be the year of the Biden Republican - Thoughts on the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wing of the Democratic Party and the development of small donor power in elections - Why conspiracy theories have become so popular - The stunning defeat of Joe Kennedy by Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Senate race - Thoughts on the panic-laden Deutsche Bank report by Jim Reid warning investors of an "Age of Disorder" - And much, much more! This Episode Brought to You By:The War State:The Cold War Origins of the Military-Industrial Complex and the Power Elite, 1945-1963byMichael SwansonofThe Wall Street Window

Everyone's come down from Markey/Kennedy. The Joe Kennedy supporters are still screaming about gateway cities and fauxgressives in the wealthier parts of Massachusetts during the highest turnout since 1990 as Ed Markey supporters move onto a general with all gas, no brakes on defunding the police and watching the West Coast burn while a Green New Deal waits in wings. And on top of that, Marty had to ruin Michelle's party. Does it ever end? So the bhoys asked Mitch Gayns of "Those People" podcast to explain what everyone may (or may not have) missed in a Massachusetts Senate primary that Joe Kennedy took for granted at the last possible second. Jacquetta Van Zandt needs to grow up and take the L already. Follow Mitch: www.twitter.com/mitchgayns Enjoy some of Mitch's other works www.MitchGayns.com

This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss which candidate received the biggest campaign bump from their party conventions, Trump's and Biden's visits to Wisconsin, and the fight over mail-in ballots in Harris County, among other stories. NATIONAL TOPICS 2020 roundup:  Biden funds, Trump visits WI Portland unrest Massachusetts Senate race DNI ending briefings Pelosi unmasked TEXAS TOPICS Motor Voter suit Ballot wars – Democrats versus Greens Texas Dems push registration... Read More

Justin discusses the narratives coming out of the RNC surrounding the Kenosha shootings and how the Biden/Trump campaign's responded. Specifically how the Biden response is totally inadequate and Trump's doubling down on repression. Rounding out the episode is a discussion of Ed Markey's victory over Joe Kennedy III in the Massachusetts Senate primary and what it means for the left. Support the show and everything we do by joining us on patreon at patreon.com/MillennialReview.

The Democratic primary for a Massachusetts Senate seat is becoming a test of progressive bona fides and the strength of the Kennedy family name. So perhaps it’s not surprising to learn that, when it comes to their voting records, the two candidates are extremely similar.  Guest: Victoria McGrane, political correspondent for the Boston Globe.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic primary for a Massachusetts Senate seat is becoming a test of progressive bona fides and the strength of the Kennedy family name. So perhaps it’s not surprising to learn that, when it comes to their voting records, the two candidates are extremely similar.  Guest: Victoria McGrane, political correspondent for the Boston Globe.  Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republicans wrap up their convention, setting the 2020 election into full swing. We hear from a Republican who avoided Trump in 2016 explain why he's supporting him this year. Plus, a look at QAnon conspiracy theorists winning Republican primaries for the House and Senate, and we preview a tight Massachusetts Senate primary between two Democrats with similar policy positions. The post Episode #343: Looking For Four More appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

7/16/20-- This week in #mapoli coverage begins with a national news item with a Massachusetts connection. The Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a proposal to bar current international students from studying in the US if all their classes are taught online. They would have been asked to either transfer to institutions with at least one in person class or self-deport. This happened during a federal hearing of a lawsuit initiated by Harvard and MIT. And speaking of lawsuits, the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office told news outlets that applications for mail-in ballots for registered primary voters in Massachusetts are being sent out. This comes after voting rights organizations sued Secretary Bill Galvin, saying he needed to mail the applications by July 15 regardless of the funding issues he had pointed to as reason for delay. The Massachusetts Senate passed a police reform bill Tuesday that would ban chokeholds, limit the use of tear gas, and train law enforcement officers in the history of racism. The bill, if passed, would limit qualified immunity that protects officers from civil lawsuits. This aspect was the only notable point of contention in the Senate and has also upset police union leaders in Massachusetts. Stephanie Murray provides an update on the news landscape here in Massachusetts that, like everywhere, was already suffering disinvestment before COVID hit, but the pandemic has only exacerbated conditions. News outlets across the state are suffering, and reporters are enduring furloughs and layoffs, leaving a smaller and smaller group of people to cover the fallout from a global crisis. Steve Koczela presents snapshots of public opinion on one aspect of such fallout--how families are thinking about higher education int he midst of the pandemic. It turns out that while most (roughly three-quarters) of Massachusetts parents of 10th, 11th, and 12th graders say that their children's college plans have not changed, that leaves one-quarter of parents whose kids' plans have changed. Those who say their child will delay entry tend to be those who have been the most disadvantaged throughout the shutdown--families who lack sufficient devices and Internet connection, families who speak languages other than English at home, and families with lower incomes. On a lighter note, Steve, Jennifer, and Stephanie, upon hearing of the city of Chicago's recently established Census Cowboy, decided Massachusetts could use a similar vigilante. They asked the good people of Twitter who would make a good Census Cowboy for the Bay State and were flooded with dozens of ingenious responses. The winner: a photoshopped Bill Weld, eating a turkey leg atop a horse, wearing a cowboy hat. We at The Horse Race believe we need that now more than ever.

The Senate is set to vote Thursday on whether to let cities and towns use traffic cameras to crack down on drivers running red lights. WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports.

2/12/20-- The day we've been talking about for months has come and gone: The New Hampshire Primary. It presented few surprises if you've been paying attention for the past couple of weeks. Pete Buttigieg won the Iowa Caucus, and Bernie Sanders has enjoyed first-place polling status in the state. Sanders came out on top with 25.7% of the vote with Buttigieg right behind at 24.4%. Amy Klobuchar pulled out a startling third-place finish with 19.8% and six delegates. Neither Elizabeth Warren (finishing fourth) nor Joe Biden (fifth) who've previously enjoyed instances of high popularity this campaign won a single New Hampshire delegate. Last week, after the release of new data from The MassINC Polling Group on Massachusetts residents' opinions on climate change , we talked a lot about net-zero carbon emissions. The goal of net-zero by 2050 is one shared by the Massachusetts Senate, House, and Executive Office. And during MPG's poll release event, Secretary Katie Theoharides of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs emphasized the importance of this science-based target. But we didn't delve into what exactly net-zero emissions by 2050 means nor what steps we can expect will be taken to get us there. For that, Steve spoke with Eugenia Gibbons, Policy Director for the Green Energy Consumers Alliance. "We have to reduce those emissions as quickly as possible," Gibbons said. "The first way you do that is to try to eliminate the amount of emissions you're putting into the air through your human activity, but then net-zero is achieved when you allow for other strategies to absorb the remaining carbon from the atmosphere so you can get to a place where there's zero." Steve brought up the debate swirling about whether to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we should rely on existing sources of energy like natural gas as an interim step to ultimately get us to completely clean renewable energy. "The science tells us where we need to be. and we don't have anymore time to waste," Gibbons responded. "We do need to stop investing in fossil fuel infrastructure, and we do need to be looking at ways to accelerate adoption of clean alternatives. And the longer we take to do that, the harder it's going to be to get to where we need to be."

We look at what a bank closure in one city neighborhood could mean for Springfield residents. And we speak with Massachusetts Senate hopeful Rep. Joe Kennedy.

The Massachusetts Senate will be voting on whether to pass a statewide plastic bag ban. This would prohibit any retail stores from distributing plastic bags to their customers with any purchases item. Would you be in favor of this? Is Massachusetts even making an environmental difference by doing this? We discuss.

Today's Topics: A distracted driving ban could be passed here in Massachusetts...meaning it would be illegal for drivers to hold cellphones while driving. VB talks to Brian Kilmeade about his new book: "Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers: The Texas Victory That Changed American History". According to a new poll, Pete Buttigieg is leading in the latest Iowa poll...how many believe he will be the Democratic nominee? Then the Massachusetts Senate will be voting on whether to pass a statewide plastic bag ban. Hear all this including today's "Stories We Love" and our newest feature "A Flash of Lightning"!

What do you do when you invent email at the age of 14 in 1978, but the US military, academic and media establishment wants to deny you your achievement?What do you do when you have 4 degrees from MIT, are an entrepreneur, a proven problem solver, but the whole world seems to believe strident, unscientific ideology is "settled science" and that anyone who questions it is a conspiracy theorist?How about when the political establishment is so corrupt that democracy is merely a simulation or illusion, as a permanent political class holds on to its power?What if you want to challenge all this? Well, today I'm going to speak to someone who is fighting against all of the above.I am pleased to have on my programme today Dr. (Vellayappa) Shiva Ayyadurai Dr. Ayyadurai is an Indian-born American scientist, engineer, and entrepreneur.Ayyadurai has been a genuine disrupter, generating controversy by questioning the working conditions of India's largest scientific agency, and later the safety of genetically modified soybeans. Dr. Shiva is author of the book All-American Indian: This Fight Is Your Fight - The Battle to Save America from the Elites Who Think They Know Better.He was an independent candidate in the 2018 United States Senate election in Massachusetts and is currently running for the Republican nomination in 2020.We talk about:- his invention of email and the manufactured, cynical, corporate-academic-military controversy over it, decades later- his background as a low-caste Indian in India, and his family's extraordinary story of fighting against discrimination and social limitations in India- his experience at MIT: Chomsky, politics, technology, and his firing under pressure from the official military-biased technological historians- his critical view of Gandhi and the world's "Not So Obvious Establishment"- the existing caste system in Academica, the United States and the world- His marriage to Fran Drescher- celebrities vs. actors, scientists vs. academics, statesmen vs. politicians- the criticism of "scientific consensus", the fraudulence of the Climate Change / Carbon Tax movement, and its support by the most polluting corporations- Fake Problems and Fake Solutions vs. Real Problems and Real Solutions, and Fake Political Divisions based around Fake Problems- How the Massachusetts Senate election is the most important in the World, because it is the epicentre of the Deep State- his anti-establishment ideology and his attraction to Donald Trump- his very unconventional, anti-establishment political campaign- his pledge to only serve one term and to train 10,000 young leaders to continue the fight- His programme of radical health reform, getting the Post Office involved in hosting the internet and protecting the First Amendment, dismantling the Student Loan scam that Universities get rich off of while impoverishing graduates- Why he thinks Trump is more anti-establishment to Yang and Tulsi Check out his fascinating Senate campaign here: shiva4senate.com 

The saga of Tulsi Gabbard and the elusive third poll, another new poll gives no help to the debate qualifying field, Joe Kennedy III is definitely running for Senate, a listener question about the million-donor mark, Kamala Harris doubles down on Iowa, and Amazon will allow voice donations to presidential candidates starting in October. What could possibly go wrong?Links:Chris Higgins on TwitterChris Higgins on InstagramElection Ride Home on TwitterElection Ride Home on FacebookGabbard tweet announcing third qualifying poll (Twitter/Tulsi Gabbard)Joe Biden ahead in Democratic race, with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren filling out the top tier [the poll in question] (WaPo)Poll details for one of Gabbard’s qualifying polls (ABC News/WaPo)Poll details for another of Gabbard’s qualifying polls (CBS News/YouGov)DNC Announces Details For Third Presidential Primary Debate [the rules] (DNC)Who Will Make the Fourth Democratic Debate? [includes topline comments from DNC] (FiveThirtyEight)Skelley tweet re topline DNC rule (Twitter/Geoffrey Skelley)Who has qualified for the fourth Democratic debate [includes note on CNN/SSRS poll repeat] (WaPo)Bennet’s letter to Perez/DNC (Bennet for America)What If The Third Debate Were Based On Different Polls? (FiveThirtyEight)2020 Democratic polls [spreadsheet indicating what counts] (Google Sheets/Politico)Montellaro tweet re Fox News poll (Twitter/Zach Montellaro)Joe Kennedy to formally announce he’ll run for Senate (Boston Globe)Kennedy to challenge Markey for Massachusetts Senate seat (Politico)Elizabeth Warren’s Campaign Receives 1 Million Donations, Hitting Milestone (NYT)Kamala Harris bets it all on Iowa to break freefall (Politico)‘Alexa, I want to make a political contribution.’ Amazon to start voice-controlled donations to 2020 presidential campaigns (WaPo)Alexa Political Contributions (Amazon Pay)“And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords” (YouTube/The Simpsons)

It was June 19, 2003 and Billy Bulger was under oath. The powerful politician would finally have to answer questions on live TV from appalled congressmen about his alleged involvement in the bloodstained career of his fugitive gangster brother Whitey as well as about two generations of corruption in the Boston office of the FBI.Bulger's fellow Democrats from Massachusetts would be asking him even tougher questions than the Republicans on the House committee. For once in his life Billy Bulger, the former President of the Massachusetts Senate, was in the hot seat. And the entire nation was waiting to hear what Whitey Bulger’s brother had to say.If you like this podcast, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/dirtyratspod

The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously approved a bill requiring hands-free use of all mobile devices while driving. Once in effect only a single tap or swipe to enable a hands-free mode will be allowed in a moving car. Last month, the House voted 155-2 to pass a similar bill. It now heads to the Governor's desk for his signature. Joining us to celebrate is Jerry Cibley whose son was killed in a car accident using his cell.

We’re on site at City Hall with the 94th President of the Massachusetts Senate, Harriette L. Chandler, in the room where she got her political start as a member of the Worcester School Committee in 1991. Chandler went on to become the second woman in Massachusetts history to serve as Majority Leader and also as Senate President. At age 81, she has never lost an election. We discuss the ROE Act as well as her transition from SP, which she says was not at all like Joan Vennochi described it in the Boston Globe last year when she wrote, “Men might have settled this with a heart-to-heart stroll around the Hooker statue. Instead, Chandler and Spilka are fighting over the timing of a baton pass like bargain-hunters battling over a markdown at Filene’s Basement.” Yuck. We also talk Oscars. Photos by Unity Mike. 

Join us as Massachusetts State Senator Marc R. Pacheco, the body’s longest continuously-serving member, talks about his start in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1988 and from there the Massachusetts Senate in 1992. He talks about the biggest changes he has seen throughout these years and the importance of the relationships developed between Portuguese-American elected leaders and the Portuguese Government.

Chris and Mike inexplicably get the opportunity to speak with Shiva Ayyadurai, the Independent candidate for the Massachusetts Senate, (in)famous for his campaign signs depicting Liz Warren with a Native American headdress; he also claims to have invented e-mail, which our lawyers have wisely advised us to not comment on here.  Check out his AMA on TheNewRight's subreddit - and this post, which he claimed to have no idea about: Here's his appearance on Howie Carr where he was asked about his arrest record: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64bFDjRApgs Also: Chris spars with the Stolen Valor Squad on Twitter and .... it gets weird.

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Lee Stranahan and Garland Nixon discuss why Democrats believe the issue of health care may be their key to victory in the midterm elections. With Election Day just two weeks away, will a Single-Payer platform be the difference for Democrats looking to make major gains in Congress?Guests:Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai - Candidate for Senate In Massachusetts | Fake Indian Elizabeth Warren and the Massachusetts Senate RaceDanny Sjursen - U.S. Army Officer and Former History Instructor at West Point | Quagmire: What the Attack on General Miller in Afghanistan Tells UsJulie Kelly - Writer and Former Political Consultant | Why Do Women Often Get Discussed as a Monolithic Voting Bloc?Dr. Bill Honigman - Emergency Room Doctor & Progressive Healthcare Activist | Will the Issue of Health Care Deliver the #BlueWave to Democrats?Elizabeth Warren's "Native American" DNA Test appears to have backfired spectacularly as she has been mocked by individuals on all sides of the political spectrum for this move. Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai is running against Warren as an Independent in the Massachusetts Senate race, and he will join today's show to provide his commentary on Warren's character and the importance of the Massachusetts Senate election.The top US commander in Afghanistan, General Austin Miller, recently survived an "insider attack" which resulted in the deaths of three Afghan security leaders. U.S. Army Officer Danny Sjursen returns to the program to discuss this recent attack and what the United States is currently attempting to accomplish in Afghanistan.Oftentimes, political pundits talk about women voters as if they are a monolithic voting bloc who view issues through a "one size fits all" lens. Writer and former political consultant Julie Kelly joins Fault Lines to discuss some of the main issues that will determine how women cast their ballots in the upcoming midterm elections.

Kelly speaks with three Democratic women running for their state legislatures: Katie McBrine, running in the Plymouth and Norfolk District of the Massachusetts Senate (0:38.5-14:00); Charlotte Goddard, running in District 2 of the Kentucky House (14:34-31:56); and Helen Pendarvis, running in District 35 of the South Carolina House (32:29-48:27).

Kelly speaks with three Democratic women running for their state legislatures: Katie McBrine, running in the Plymouth and Norfolk District of the Massachusetts Senate (0:38.5-14:00); Charlotte Goddard, running in District 2 of the Kentucky House (14:34-31:56); and Helen Pendarvis, running in District 35 of the South Carolina House (32:29-48:27).

Born in Michigan on March 12, 1947, Mitt Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor George Romney. He founded the investment firm Bain Capital and later ran for the Massachusetts Senate in 1994, losing to incumbent Ted Kennedy. Romney took over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and helmed a successful 2002 Olympic Games. He became governor of Massachusetts in 2003 and made a run for the Republican nomination in the 2008 election, losing to candidate John McCain. Romney made a second run for the U.S. presidency in 2012, with U.S. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate, but was ultimately defeated by President Barack Obama in a tight race.The son of George Romney, a former governor of Michigan who ran for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 1968 (he was defeated by Richard Nixon), Mitt Romney began his career in business. He worked for the management consulting firm Bain & Company before founding the investment firm Bain Capital in 1984. A decade later, in 1994, he ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts but was defeated by longtime incumbent Ted Kennedy.Romney stepped into the national spotlight in 1999, when he took over as president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. He helped rescue the 2002 Winter Olympic Games from financial and ethical woes and helmed the successful Salt Lake City Games in 2002.Romney parlayed his success with the Olympics into politics when he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2003. During Romney's term as governor, he oversaw the reduction of a $3 billion deficit. He also signed into law a health-care reform program to provide nearly universal health care for Massachusetts residents.After serving one term as governor, Romney declined to run for re-election and announced his bid for the U.S. presidency. He made it through Super Tuesday, winning primaries in Massachusetts, Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado, and Utah before losing the Republican nomination to Senator John McCain of Arizona. According to reports, Romney spent about $110 million on his campaign, including $45 million of his own money.Romney continued to keep his options open for a possible future presidential run. He maintained much of his political staff and political action committees and raised funds for fellow Republican candidates. In March 2010, Romney published the book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, which debuted on The New York Times' best-seller list.At a farm in New Hampshire on June 2, 2011, Mitt Romney announced the official start of his campaign for the 2012 presidential election. During his campaign, Romney took many standard Republican positions on taxes, the economy and fighting terrorism, while consistently and vocally criticizing his opponent, Democrat President Barack Obama. Specifically, Romney denounced President Obama's health-care reform program—a stance that earned him criticism from the press, as the president's health-care plan is similar to the Massachusetts plan that Romney supported as governor. Additionally, throughout the 2012 presidential race, critics charged Romney with changing his position on several key issues, including abortion; Romney supported Roe v. Wade—the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a woman's right to an abortion—while campaigning for a Senate seat in 1994, but maintained an ardent pro-life stance throughout his 2012 campaign for the presidency.From the start of his campaign, Romney emerged as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. He showed more mainstream Republican appeal than Tea Party-backed competitors like Texas Governor Rick Perry. In January 2012, Romney scored a decisive victory in the New Hampshire Republican primary. He captured more than 39 percent of votes, way ahead of his competitors, including Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman. As the race continued, Rick Santorum became his greatest competition, winning several states. However, Romney secured a substantial lead in the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination.In April 2012, Romney benefitted from a narrowing of the field when Santorum announced that he was suspending his campaign. Romney publicly paid tribute to his former rival, saying that Santorum "has proved himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation." Following Santorum's departure, Romney only had two opponents left—Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. Gingrich threw in the towel that May.Romney's campaign met with negative publicity in July 2012, when President Obama's campaign ran ads claiming that Romney was the head of Bain Capital until 2001, not until 1999 as Romney had previously stated. Around that same time, news reports began to circulate regarding economy-stifling practices by Bain Capital; according to the reports, Romney's company had invested in several businesses that specialized in relocating jobs overseas. The reports, along with Obama's ads, were huge blows to the Romney campaign. But Romney's campaign fired back with its own political ads, which claimed that Obama was more interested in helping his donors than looking out for the American public. This was only the beginning of the slinging of barbs and arrows that would occur between the two candidates along the campaign trail.Later in July 2012, Romney made headlines again, this time for comments he made while attending the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London; in an interview with NBC, Romney stated that London's preparations for the Games were somewhat "disconcerting," spurring outrage from citizens of the city and viewers worldwide. According to The Guardian, following the NBC broadcast, Prime Minister David Cameron rebuked Romney's remarks, stating, "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities in the world. Of course,​ it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere," referencing Romney's lead over the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.In response to the criticism, Romney later retracted, stating, "I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games. What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organization and [I] expect the Games to be highly successful," according to The Guardian.In August 2012, Romney announced 42-year-old U.S. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate for vice president. The announcement ended months-long speculation over the potential vice-presidential candidates of the 2012 election, as media attention began to heavily focus on Ryan, a fiscal conservative and chair of the House of Representatives Budget Committee.On August 28, 2012, Romney became the Republican Party's official presidential nominee, receiving 2,061 delegate votes—nearly double the required 1,144—on the first day of the 2012 Republican National Convention, held in Tampa, Florida. During the convention, election candidates Romney and Ryan received support from several fellow Republican politicians, including Romney's competitor in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, John McCain. "For four years, we have drifted away," McCain said at the convention. "People don't want less of America, they want more. What they want to know is, whether we still have faith ... Mitt Romney has that faith, and I trust him to lead us."Romney made headlines after the first presidential debate with Barack Obama in early October 2012. He gave a strong performance, receiving praise for his speaking skills from citizens and critics alike. Most critics agreed that Romney won the debate and that his performance significantly boosted his public perception and status in the presidential race. However, Obama was praised for his performance during the second and third debates, with many critics claiming that the president had won both.As each state announced its election results on November 6, 2012, many Americans clung to the edge of their seats. Just before midnight, the results were announced: In a tight race, Romney was defeated by Barack Obama, with the president receiving just over half of the popular vote and around 60 percent of the electoral vote.

Developed by the Department of Energy, the Home Energy Score provides information about a home’s energy use. Similar to the MPG rating for a car, it reports the home’s efficiency  on a simple one-to-ten scale, where a ten represents the most efficient homes. The inspection needed to provide the data is performed by home inspectors. Brent Loya has been presented with the Innovation Award for 2018 by the Department of Energy and he and his company IDENERGY helps inspectors become assessors. Obviously - as a homeowner - What if my home scores a 2? What next? Let’s address the politics…It’s still voluntary...right?...this type inspection is elective. Last month a Massachusetts Senate bill introduced to “mandate” the energy score was killed - citing  the requirement would   interfere with the real estate market… add cost and complicate an already complex transaction could "stigmatize" certain properties target homeowners who cannot afford certain upgrades/repairs and...raise constitutional privacy concerns   Proponents of the bill argued:   “it's a consumer protection issue" automakers were once strongly against miles-per-gallon stickers on cars. providing information and incentives to button up the housing stock would provide broad economic and environmental benefits and would help lower-income homeowners who pay high energy bills   When marketing the service - how do you pitch this inspection service? How do we stay out of the weeds of the political battles? FIND AN ASSESSOR I’ve taken the course - how do I get hired? I’ve seen the Find an Assessor map on the DOE website. But when I click on each state I see a link an inspector association or a state power association. I noticed the links are set up as a partner? Talk about the network of partners. Can a home inspector be a partner? IT’S NOT A “FOR SALE ONLY” PROGRAM You’ve finish an assessment - now what? You can market this program to existing home owners as well.   WHERE’S THE MONEY? How can a homeowner pay for the repairs? Are there funding options? Energy Score Website https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/home-energy-score   Senate Bill that was killed: https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/panelists_mass_home_energy_sco.html

On Monday, socialist Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced a plan for the federal government to guarantee a job paying $15 an hour and health-care benefits to every American worker “who wants or needs one,” embracing the kind of large-scale government works project that Democrats have shied away from in recent decades. Shiva Ayyadurai is running against Elizabeth Warren in the Massachusetts Senate race. He was born in Bombay, India (which, of course, makes him a "real Indian"). The horror of socialized medicine in the U.K. concerning sick 23-month-old baby Alfie Evans continues. Maria Espinoza, the National Director of The Remembrance Project, will join me to discuss all things illegal immigration, including the so-called "Refugee Caravan", troops on the border, and the latest in the DACA saga. Don't forget about the Edwards Notebook and the Veteran's Tip of the Day! All of this and more as time allows. Listen live, join the chatroom, be a part of the show 

On Monday, socialist Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced a plan for the federal government to guarantee a job paying $15 an hour and health-care benefits to every American worker “who wants or needs one,” embracing the kind of large-scale government works project that Democrats have shied away from in recent decades. Shiva Ayyadurai is running against Elizabeth Warren in the Massachusetts Senate race. He was born in Bombay, India (which, of course, makes him a "real Indian"). The horror of socialized medicine in the U.K. concerning sick 23-month-old baby Alfie Evans continues. Maria Espinoza, the National Director of The Remembrance Project, will join me to discuss all things illegal immigration, including the so-called "Refugee Caravan", troops on the border, and the latest in the DACA saga. Don't forget about the Edwards Notebook and the Veteran's Tip of the Day! All of this and more as time allows. Listen live, join the chatroom, be a part of the show 

Harriette Chandler never had designs on the Massachusetts Senate's top post, and she readily admits to mixed feelings about landing there. Her unexpected ascension was the result of the scandal swirling around her close ally, Stan Rosenberg, who temporarily relinquished the Senate president's job last month while an investigation is underway. Congratulated on her new role of acting president as we kicked off the Codcast conversation, Chandler wondered if that's the right word.

Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai speaks with Owen Shroyer on Alex Jones Infowars channel on November 13, 2017. Dr. Shiva talks about his decision to run as an Independent against Elizabeth Warren in the 2018 Massachusetts Senate election. According to Dr. Shiva, the..

Episode Image by Nicole Da Silva Theme song HoodGrown by David-James @davedashjames_ https://soundcloud.com/davedashjames Transition music @mztrwlsn https://soundcloud.com/mrwilsonbeats TAG THE ARTIST Armhed Louis Jean @a_louis_jean Www.alouisjean.graphics/blog-2/ FOR US BY US https://eliotschool.org/front The Eliot School offers classes to people of all ages in woodworking, sewing and yarn, fiber arts, book arts, drawing, painting, photography and other crafts and fine arts. The Eliot School · 24 Eliot Street, PO Box 300351 · Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 · 617.524.3313 WORD ON THE STREET Now Anime Boston Is Suing Boston Anime Fest - Bleeding Cool https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/12/05/anime-boston-suing-boston-anime-fest/ Kimora Lee Simmons Dishes On Her New Line And Boston Fashion - Haute Living http://hauteliving.com/2017/12/kimora-lee-simmons-boston-fashion/647844/ Edtech is booming-but does it make better teachers? - eSchool News https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/11/29/edtech-better-teachers/ Massachusetts Senate president steps aside amid sexual misconduct probe against his husband - Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/04/massachusetts-senate-president-steps-aside-amid-sexual-misconduct-probe-against-his-husband.html 4 Things You Need To Know About Massachusetts’ Cannabis Laws - The Fresh Toast https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/4-things-need-know-massachusetts-cannabis-laws/ Felony or misdemeanor? State may change larceny laws - WCVB http://www.wcvb.com/article/felony-or-misdemeanor-state-may-change-larceny-laws/14004226 KING PINS Mark Bradford https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/mark-bradford-to-bring-niagara-falls-to-baltimore-in-addition-to-venice-show-1166282 https://hyperallergic.com/411534/mark-bradford-picketts-charge-hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden-2017/ https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/mark-bradford-hirshhorn-museum-1143248 http://www.cnn.com/style/article/mark-bradford-hirshhorn/index.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zirJolHL-k https://art21.org/artist/mark-bradford/ GOOD LOOKS Nicole Da Silva @nicolerds Www.Nrdsart.com Daughter of Contrast www.daughterofcontrast.com/ @daughterofcontrst Amber @ambersafro HIT US UP! If you’re an Artist or know an Artist to be featured on the show please send us an image of the work along with a short bio and social media handles. If you’re a small business owner or know of a local boston business to be featured on the show please send u a short message and social media handles. If you would like to be interviewed on the show please email us and send us a short bio and or media. And please please please send us topics for real talk to HoodGrownAesthetic@gmail.com or message us on instagram or here on SoundCloud

There's a big Massachusetts Senate election coming up in less than a week, #mapoli fans. The Scrum asked all seven candidates to come in for a sort of political speed-dating session.

Talking to Ross Hemminger, one of the new leadership team at gay conservative group GOProud.    GOProud is a national organization of gay and straight Americans who seek to promote freedom by supporting free markets, limited government, and a respect for individual rights. We work to build strong coalitions of conservative and libertarian activists, organizations and policy makers to advance our shared values and beliefs. ? Ross Hemminger is a native of Fostoria, Ohio. He attended Ave Maria University in Florida. He has a long history in Republican politics having worked for College Republican National Committee and having served as an aide to former U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) as well as Massachusetts Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez. Prior to working for Brown and Gomez, Hemminger interned for GOProud in 2011.

Kasim Reed Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta is passionate about the need for progressives to throw out their complacency about rights they have already won. Why? Because Republicans are successfully impeding voting rights and women’s rights. He calls their words and actions “insane.” http://kasimreed.com/ Tamara Draut Tamara Draut, an activist and author, links the soaring cost of college to the grim future for a generation of 20- and 30-somethings, who may become the first generation of Americans to do worse than their parents. http://www.demos.org/tamara-draut Adam Green Bill Press chats with Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, who provides a rundown on the Massachusetts Senate race and five House races where progressives might replace Republican incumbents. http://www.billpressshow.com/ http://boldprogressives.org/

Join the PdF Network to participate in upcoming conference calls - personaldemocracy.com.

In this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast recorded at Rocky's, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss: 1. What does the Massachusetts Senate race mean to the remaining 2010 races? And is it a referendum on health care reform? Scott Brown won because his message moved independents, who will control many election to come and will continue to swing, demonstrating an impatience with office holders who don't get anything done. 2. The race for governor and speculation on other state and local races. Do Tuesday's results signal anything in the governor's race? Could it possibly have an impact on the primary? Will any of the GOP candidates for governor jump on a Senate Republican plan put forward Tuesday to cut the pay and require higher health-care contributions from all public employees, including teachers and legislators? Is taking pay and benefits away a race to the bottom, or is it a reasonable proposal in light of givebacks in pay and benefits among private sector employees? Also, state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, believed to be a favorite for the Democratic nod for attorney general, stunned supporters today in announcing she's out, even after raising more than $200,000. Some will wonder about the timing and whether she made her decision based on the Massachusetts results, but she makes a good case that it was a decision made based on family commitments. 3. The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to grant an injunction to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. It's a win for the Obama Administration and officials in Illinois, but at what cost? The other Great Lakes states all supported the injunction. Conversation starters: Ed on the latest United Van Linesmigration study. For the fourth year in a row, Michigan is the biggest loser in the country. Jeff on Republcian Secretary of State Paul Scott's platform against transgender driver's license changes and whether this is really an issue in Michigan.

The 204th edition of America's Debate Radio with Mike and Jaime. During the first hour, we discussed the results of the Massachusetts Senate race, the make-up of the US Senate, the future of healthcare legislation, and President Obama's first State of the Union Address. During the second and third hours, we spoke with 4 callers and discussed the Massachusetts Senate race, independent voters, Haitian relief efforts, the future of democracy, and the possible effects of the 2010 census on the House of Representatives. We welcome your feedback! Have your email read on the air-- click here to use the email form. Or, call 888.DEBATE.5 now and leave a message-- we'll play it on the next show. Thanks for listening!

The 203rd edition of America's Debate Radio with Mike and Jaime. During the first hour, we discussed the recent earthquake in Haiti, changes to the make up of the Senate, and the Massachusetts Senate campaigns. During the second and third hours, we spoke with 2 callers and discussed the return of the House of Representatives to this session, animal fighting, exotic cuisine, proposed amendments to the constitution, and defining general welfare. We welcome your feedback! Have your email read on the air-- click here to use the email form. Or, call 888.DEBATE.5 now and leave a message-- we'll play it on the next show. Thanks for listening!

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On this week's 51%, it's witching hour. We speak with a Massachusetts state senator about a bill to exonerate a woman convicted during the Salem witch trials. Author Kate Laity teaches us about the history of magic, and we also speak with author and podcaster Pam Grossman about modern witchcraft, and why witches are a feminist icon. Guests: Massachusetts State Senator Diana DiZoglio; Rachel Christ-Doane, director of education at the Salem Witch Museum; Kate Laity; Pam Grossman, author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power 51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Our producer is Jesse King, our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock, and our theme is “Lolita” by the Albany-based artist Girl Blue. Follow Along You're listening to 51%, a WAMC production dedicated to women's issues and stories. Thanks for joining us, I'm Jesse King. The spooky season is upon us, and it's one of my favorite times of the year. It means pumpkins, apple cider, leaf-peeping — and in upstate New York — a nice reprieve from the humidity of summer before diving into what is usually the months-long chill of winter. It also, of course, means Halloween, and growing up my go-to costume was a witch. I was a witch probably four or five times before I switched over to vampires and the occasional Little Red Riding Hood. Either I was ahead of the curve, or things really haven't changed, because despite the popularity of shows like Squid Game and the latest offerings from Marvel, Google's “Frightgeist” still predicts the most popular Halloween costume in 2021 will be the good, old-fashioned witch. So today we're talking about witches: why they're so popular, what modern witchcraft looks like, and how we got here, because the history of witches in the U.S. can certainly be a difficult read. And where else would we start other than the Salem witch trials? Every year, crowds flock to Salem, Massachusetts to learn more about the 1692, hysterical witch hunt and trials that left 20 people dead. More than 300 years later, groups are still trying to clear the names of everyone convicted. Democratic State Senator Diana DiZoglio is behind the latest bill, S.1016, to clear the name of Elizabeth Johnson Jr. "Actually, I heard about Elizabeth Johnson Jr. from a North Andover middle school class. Their teacher, Carrie LaPierre, had reached out to me and said that she and her students had been talking about somebody who was accused during the Salem witch trials," says DiZoglio. "She had never actually had her named cleared, unfortunately, even though all the others had actually had their names cleared. And I decided to file this bill at the request of the North Andover middle school students." Johnson was born around 1670 and lived in a part of Andover that's considered North Andover today. DiZoglio says S. 1016 would officially exonerate Johnson, adding her name to a resolve in Massachusetts general law that acknowledges that, while the Salem witch trials were lawful at the time, the laws by which they operated have long been abandoned. Until then, however, Johnson is technically the last remaining witch from the trials. There's been a lot of speculation about what really caused the Salem witch trials in the first place — whether there were actually "witches," whether the accusers were outright lying, or whether they suffered from a neurological illness called “conversion disorder,” caused by extreme psychological stress. To learn more, I got the chance to speak with Rachel Christ-Doane, the director of education at the Salem Witch Museum. She says a combination of factors had already put the community under a lot of pressure. "It's a pretty chaotic time in Salem Village, and also if we can zoom out, just Massachusetts Bay Colony, generally speaking. Salem Village was in the process of trying to separate from Salem Town in the early 1670s. They had been granted the right to have their own parish, which was a big step towards independence — they could attend to their you know, weekly church meetings a little closer to home. But a factional crisis erupted pretty early on, where half the village likes a ministerial candidate, the other half hates them, and they fight and they fight until they drive that candidate out of town, essentially," Christ-Doane explains. "By this point, they're on their fourth minister whose name is Samuel Paris. And he is kind of, you know, not the best in terms of smoothing over the factional divide. He's a very incendiary figure in and of itself. They're fighting about what his salary should be, he's demanding more. It's basically this kind of mess, you know, in the months leading up to January of 1692. So basically what starts it all is, in the home of Samuel Paris, we see his daughter and his niece become very ill. So their names are Betty Paris, who's 9 years old, and Abigail Williams, she's 11 years old. Betty and Abigail are falling to the ground. They're screaming, they're clutching their heads. They're making animal noises, and nobody can quite figure out what is wrong with the girls. So essentially, they try all the traditional remedies — there's a month of fasting and prayer and things like that. They call in the village doctor, and he looks at the girls and he says, 'I don't have a medical explanation for what's going on here. It looks to me like this is the work of the devil. This is bewitchment.' And that's really what kicks off the witchcraft trials, because now they need to find the witches who are in the community, who are supposedly tormenting these young girls." Christ-Doane says the Salem Witch Trials officially took place between June and September of 1692, and anywhere from 150 to 200 people from Salem and its surrounding communities were accused of witchcraft around this time. She says the accused could be any age, race or gender, but at the beginning, at least, they were mostly people who, for one reason or another, didn't fit in with the rest of society: women who were particularly outspoken, who fought publicly with their husbands, or older "spinsters," thought to be a burden on the community. Johnson was one of 28 people in her family to face accusations, including her mother, multiple aunts, and grandfather. Christ-Doane says the political landscape in Massachusetts only contributed to the frenzy. The colony was rewriting its laws and choosing officials as it worked through a new charter, and with alleged witches filling the jails in Essex County, Governor Sir William Phipps created an emergency court to oversee the trials, called the Court of Oyer and Terminer. "So essentially, they're told, do what you think is best. You know, base your decisions on English common law and English precedent, but do what you think is right, and what the situation demands. And that, unfortunately, leads to devastating consequences," Christ-Doane adds. "In the Court of Oyer and Terminer, you have the afflicted — so the girls who are supposedly being tormented by witchcraft — in the room, screaming, falling to the ground, claiming they're being tormented by the devil. And you as the accused have to defend yourself against this sea of writhing witnesses. And the really destructive decision that's made by the Court of Oyer and Terminer is their choice to accept something called spectral evidence. Spectral evidence is essentially based on the idea that a witch could theoretically project a spectral version of themselves, a ghostly version of themselves, out of their physical body that could go off across large distances and torment. And the victims of a spectral attack were the only ones who could see the specter. And so that means, if you were accused of witchcraft [and] standing before this court, you could have the witnesses pointing up to the rafters saying, 'I see the specter of Rebecca Nurse up on the ceiling. You can't see her, but I can, and that's how I know she's a witch.' And that was being used as enough evidence to convict and warrant executions during the Salem witch trials." Ultimately, 20 people were executed for witchcraft: 19 of them hanged, and another tortured to death. Johnson confessed to being a witch and was sentenced to death in 1963, but by then public opinion on the trials had soured. Christ-Doane says almost everyone in Salem had either spent time in jail, or knew someone in jail, and with his own wife among the accused, Governor Phipps disbanded the Court of Oyer and Terminer in October 1962. Johnson's execution was avoided, and she ultimately died an old woman in 1747, at the age of about 77. Christ-Doane says the Salem witch trials were the largest and harshest witch trials between England and its colonies — but they were far from the first. Ironically, being called a witch was sometimes more hazardous than the feared wrath of a witch. But it wasn't always that way. “Witch history” is hard to pin down, because quite frankly, belief in magic and people with magical abilities has existed for thousands of years, across nearly every culture — and each culture's definition of a witch is constantly evolving. But there was a time when magic was looked at a little more kindly. I got the chance to speak with Kate Laity, an award-winning author of several books spanning a range of genres, including Chastity Flame, Dream Book, How to Be Dull, and more. She also produces two audio programs, and while splitting her time between Hudson, New York, and Scotland, she teaches at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. She particularly specializes in medieval studies and literature. What prompted the start of witch trials in Europe? Well, especially in the Middle Ages, healing charms, for example — that we would see as sort of magic and not science — they would have seen as effective ways to deal with various kinds of health problems or other problems. There are a lot of journey charms, so you don't become injured or lost or imperiled on your journey. And there are of course, charms against having your cattle stolen. Again, if you think in old English, the word for "cattle" is also the word for "wealth." So this is a way of saying, "Don't steal my stuff." This is something that begins to change in the Middle Ages, where you have sort of two strands. There's the sort of folk magic that most people would be familiar with, and which, you know, continued from pre-Christian times into Christian times, because you just adapted it to the new belief. So instead of maybe praying to this or that god, you would just pray to the Christian God, and you would have masses said over — you know, there's a wonderful charm for when a field is not producing enough, where you take a piece of it out, and you do a variety of things to it, but then you take it to the church to be blessed, and you pour milk and honey and all these things into the ground, and then you put it back down. That's a way of restoring the kind of regenerative power that the field should have. But what you also have is a kind of learned magic that is practiced amongst the clergy, which is, you know, the monks who are reading all these books, and many of them during the Crusades, for example, a lot of books were coming up from the middle east through Spain, and a lot of books that were mathematics and more learning kinds of magic that were more about conjuration, about dealing with necromancy and talking to the dead, which was something that was completely alien to the average person. One scholar, Michael Bailey, argues that in the late Middle Ages, these things kind of get overlapped in a way that matters, because people in power were beginning to worry about unorthodox behaviors within the Church. And this is what in the early modern period — not the medieval, in the early modern period — you start to get the witch hunts. How common were witch hunts. I mean, we talked about the Salem witch trials, but worldwide, how common were they? We find this in in many of those occasions where there are sort of pressures on the society that people don't have a way of coping with — instances that, you might just say, are acts of God. But the way that people respond to them is, "Somebody's got to pay. Somebody's got to be to blame for this." So, "Well, she's a witch, or he's a witch." And again, depending on the region — we're accustomed to associating witches with women, but in some areas in European history, in Finland and in Iceland, the greater part of the accusations were against men. And part of that is to do with very long histories of gendered magic in Iceland and Finland, where there's magic practice by men and magic practice by women, and they're quite distinct. How are they different? Especially in Iceland, which I'll talk about as its at the top of my mind, women's magic tends to be focused much more on prognostication. So they can see, they can see what is coming or they can see what has happened. Men and women both are able to read dreams. And one of the interesting aspects of Norse Mythology is that the figure of Odin is one of the few that practices both —what is considered the male magic and the feminine magic. Where does the word "witch" come from? The word witches is a very, very old English word. People will say it has to do with bending, it has nothing to do with bending. That's a completely different word root. And what it has to do with is witchcraft. We have the earliest attestation of it in Old English. I mean, this is in the oldest versions of English, and it comes from an Indo-European root, but it's always meant exactly that. And that's where the word "wicca," which many people will be familiar with, is just the old English word for witch. There's "wicca" with an A and "wicce" with an E. So we have a masculine and feminine version of it, but it's the same word. So obviously, during these times, you've got people being accused of witchcraft. But is it common for people to identify like, "I am a witch?" Well, probably not at the time they were being accused. I mean, you would have women who might be practiced in certain arts, that they're able to heal people. Maybe they have a knowledge of herbs that's been handed down, usually these things are handed down within families or learned from somebody else older. And so they have abilities to do this. And of course, the idea of cursing is something that's always probably been with us too. And if you look at the long history of magic, it's fascinating how many of these tangible forms [exist] — especially when you're angry, a lot of magic is about anger, because it comes from the idea of people who want something to happen, and don't feel they have any power to be able to make it happen. And so if you look in ancient Greek and Roman cultures, we have all these lead tablets with curses written on them. We'll still find somebody being cursed to this day because their tablet has been found, and we don't always know who these people were, but somebody was obviously really mad that day. Do you identify as a witch? Usually, it depends on the mood. But yes, in large part because I've got all this history in my mind, and I see a great power in claiming that name. And also as a way of thinking about how you approach the world. I mean, part of this is tied to to my creative work — not only writing, but also art and music that I do, that it comes from this idea of reenchanting the world and and finding that magic in everyday life. So how did we go from the Salem witch trials, to the top of the rankings on Frightgeist? And beyond costumes and All Hallow's Eve: for years now, if you search for information on witchcraft, you'll find articles signalling its rise. More and more people, of all genders, are actively identifying themselves as witches, with estimates putting the number at around 1.5 million witches in the U.S. Nowadays, you can buy professional witch services online, from tarot readings to rituals. You can have supplies for spells delivered right to your door. Witches are social media influencers, they're authors and podcasters, they're activists and symbols of feminine power. They might don the black hat and carry around a broom when they feel like it - but they're also your coworker, and your neighbor. Pam Grossman has written and contributed to several books on witchcraft, including her 2019 book, Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power, and her new release with Jessica Hundley, titled simply, Witchcraft. Since 2017, she's also been the host of the popular podcast, The Witch Wave, for which Vulture dubbed her, “the Terry Gross of witches.” I asked her why witches seem to be having their moment, and she says it's really been hundreds of years in the making. How did the perception of witches change to what we see today? Well, we first start to see a more sympathetic look at witches, really, in the 19th century. There were writers such as a French writer named Jules Michelet, who wrote a book called La Sorciere in the middle of the 19th century, who was following a lot of other scholars who were starting to look back at the witch hunts with a more sympathetic lens. It wasn't an always historically accurate lens, mind you, but you know, people would start to look back at the witch hunt and say, "Hey, wait a second. It was mostly women who were targeted? And what was it about these women that made them such a threat to the Church?" And so, you know, around that time, you'll see writers who talk about witches as these oppressed, but truly powerful, women who had access to these brilliant minds or some kind of supernatural intuition or some kind of magic power. And aren't those women amazing? And they shouldn't have been persecuted, according to those 19th century writers. As we now know, you know, those people who were killed for being witches probably were not actually witches, or probably did not see themselves as witches. However, that sympathetic notion of a witch being this oppressed woman who has access to some divine feminine energy is a very romantic notion, that feminists took up in the 20th century. And so we really start to see people choose to call themselves witches in the 20th century, certainly with second wave feminism, but also with the rise of Wicca, which is a modern religion that was largely founded by a gentleman in England named Gerald Gardner. And the Wiccan movement is a whole very interesting thread to this story, too. In your book, you say that you've used the word "witch" to signify that you're a feminist. Can you go into a little bit about what you mean by that? Well, I think both the word "witch" and the word "feminist" are highly charged words. And they are words that point to having access to some kind of power, or some kind of agency that is connected to the feminine. And so the words are not interchangeable, but for me, and many other witches, they are interrelated. Because witches usually represent an antithesis to the patriarchy. They represent everything that is othered in society — and that can be having a feminine body, or a body of color, or a trans body. It can be having access to some kind of intuitive power or other worldly power that I believe can coexist happily with science and medicine. Certainly not the same as those things, and can be considered an alternative or a supplement or complement to those more mainstream practices. But for me, the two words are very deeply woven together. So what does being a witch look like to you? Because one thing I've learned is that everyone seems to have their own interpretation. Yes. One of the wonderful things about modern witchcraft is that there is no one path and it's decentralized. In other words, there's no pope of witchcraft. There's no one book that one has to read in order to call oneself a witch. And so you're right, for every witch you ask, you are going to have a different answer about why they consider themselves a witch, or how their witchcraft practice works. In my case, I am Pagan. I was raised Jewish, so when I'm being cheeky, I sometimes call myself "Jewwitch." But, you know, being a practicing Pagan essentially means that I am celebrating the different changing of the seasons. I am celebrating different phases of the moon. I have an altar where I connect with what I call capital S Spirit, and that can take the shape of various deities, who symbolize different aspects of that Spirit. And it also means that I do cast spells and engage in rituals that are deeply meaningful and transformative for me. When did you realize you're a witch? Or at least when did you start getting more into it? So I definitely considered myself kind of magical since I was a child. I had these woods in my backyard, and I would play outside like a lot of kids do and, you know, cast spells and commune with different spirits and so on. Or at least I imagined that I was. But it wasn't until I was a teenager and discovered witchcraft books and the occult section of the library in different bookstores and New Age shops, that I really learned that witchcraft was something that you didn't have to pretend that you were engaging in. That there's actually a long history of people who have practiced some form of witchcraft. You'll actually hear that a lot — that the teen years are a time that a lot of people turn towards witchcraft. And I think it's no coincidence, because it's also a time of life when we're coming into our own power, our own identity, and looking for ways to feel like we have more agency in our lives — at a time when we don't, in a lot of ways. We still have to answer to our teachers and parents and peers. And then along comes this practice that says, "You have power right now. You know, you have access to something bigger than yourself, even as a 13-year-old. And for me, learning about witchcraft as a teenager was an incredibly positive thing. For those who might be interested in learning more, where should they start? You mentioned that you started a lot by just reading books. Oh my goodness, there are so many books on witchcraft now, it's a real feast. But it can also be overwhelming for people because they don't know where to start. So you know, there are certainly wonderful books that came out when the second wave of feminism was cresting here in the U.S. that I still think have value. One such book is The Spiral Dance by Starhawk, who really is one of the pioneers of earth-based and Goddess-based witchcraft here in the U.S. And that book still stands the test of time, I think there's a lot of beauty there. And also the same year that that book came out, which is 1979, is a book called Drawing Down the Moon, by actually a radio journalist who was also a Wiccan priestess, named Margot Adler. And this is a wonderful overview just on the history of the witchcraft movement, and all of the different groups that have made up this movement over the years. So those two are really great foundational texts. But then in terms of casting spells, just go to a bookstore and figure out what's calling to you, you know, we've all had that experience of picking up a book and just kind of getting that rush of excitement or, or feeling like it's a homecoming. So whatever book gives you that feeling is the right book to start with. Are there a simpler spells and charms that are good for beginners? Ooh, that's a that's a really lovely question. Certainly, candle magic is a simple way of casting a spell, and it's one of the most accessible. You don't even have to get a fancy special candle at a witchcraft store, you can get any old candle at a grocery store, and as long as you're putting your intentions into it, there's a good chance it's going to be really effective for you. Overall, what do you think people misunderstand about witches? I think one of the most common misconceptions is that if you are a witch, that means you have to reject what other religion of origin you might have been raised with. And that's simply not true. Yes, there are some people who were raised with a religion that they might have found oppressive or even harmful, and so they might reject that religion and turn towards witchcraft. But that is not everyone's story. There are Christian witches and Jewish witches and Buddhist witches and Hindu witches and Muslim witches and so on. So, being a witch can absolutely be complimentary to other spiritual paths that you might be walking. The other most common misconception, which I almost hesitate to bring up, because it's really bad PR, is the notion that witchcraft is somehow affiliated with the Devil and diabolism. And nothing could be further from the truth. Most witches are incredibly loving, kind, nature-worshipping, or at least nature-honoring, people. And the reason that people sometimes associate witchcraft with some kind of evil comes right out of the time of the witch hunts. You know, we're talking the 15th-17th centuries in Europe, and later here in what became the United States. And that is when this idea that witches were devil-worshipping and sexually deviant and murderous, and all of the horrible things and reasons [came about], that they use to rationalize killing innocent people. Unfortunately, those stories and those horrific beliefs are still sometimes with us today. We do see that in discriminatory practices against people who identify as witches, and there are still witch hunts that happen around the world today. Literal witch hunts. It's deeply, deeply damaging and couldn't be further from the truth. Looking back on the Salem witch trials, as Grossman noted, most of those accused probably weren't actually witches. Lying by confessing to witchcraft and turning in other “witches” increased one's odds of avoiding execution. Some of the convicted eventually petitioned for exoneration in the 1700s, and up until the early 2000s, various groups have worked to redeem those who remain. But how did Elizabeth Johnson Jr. get left out? How did we get here? State Senator Diana DiZoglio says, unlike some of the others who were wrongfully convicted, Johnson didn't have any descendants to push for her exoneration. She never married, she had no children, and some historians have suggested that she may have been mentally disabled. DiZoglio says it could still take a while for Bill 1016 to make its way through the Massachusetts Senate, but she's optimistic it'll pass - and it's good for all parties involved. "You know, this is something that's a matter of equality and making sure that justice is served. I commend these students for taking their civic education course to the next level," says DiZoglio. "This is something that demonstrates their ability to speak up and be a voice for the voiceless, and I think that that carries over into all different issues that they're going to be able to advocate for going forward. And I think it demonstrates that, no matter how young [you are], you can make a difference." You've been listening to 51%. 51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. I have so many people to thank for this episode: State Senator Diana DiZoglio, Rachel Christ-Doane with the Salem Witch Museum, Kate Laity, Pam Grossman, our executive producer, Dr. Alan Chartock, and of course you for tuning in. On social media, we're on Twitter and Instagram at @51percentradio. Let us know what you think, and if you have a story you'd like to share as well. Until next week, I'm Jesse King for 51%.